Adjusting device for stools



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

' T. W. GILBERT.

ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR STOOLS.

Patented Nov. 9,1897.

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(No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 2.

T. W. GILBERT.

ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR STOOLS.

gatented Nov. 9, 1897.

lwilyrofi ATTORNEYS WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS WM. GILBERT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR STOOLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,465, dated November 9, 1897'. Application filed February 10, 1897. Serial No. 622,771. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS WILLIAM GIL- BERT, of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Adjusting Devices for Stools or Like Articles of Furniture, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a means simple, durable, and economic whereby the seat of a stool or like article of furniture may be conveniently adjusted upward or downward and whereby, further, said seat may be revolved when desired without raising or lowering the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a quick adjustment of the seat and to so construct the adjusting mechanism that such adjustment may be accomplished, mainly, by the foot of the operator and whereby, further, the seat cannot be raised and lowered while occupied.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a vertical section through a stool, illustrating the adjusting mechanism for the seat portion thereof. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken practically on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken practically on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the adjusting mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the support for the seat in a position to be adjusted upward or downward. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a supporting-rod for the seat .which is capable of vertical adjustment and which will not permit the seat to be revolved. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a slight modification in the support for the seat, upon which support the seat may be held stationary or may be made to revolve. Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on the line 8 S of Fig. '7, and Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7.

' A represents the legs of a stool or like arti cle of furniture, said legs being shown as secured in sockets 10, which form a portion of a plate 11, in the central portion of which an opening 12 is formed. This opening is shown as surrounded by a sleeve or collar 12, the opening in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 being circular and the collar of corresponding form, while the opening shown in Figs. 7 and S is square and the collar is of like formation.

A vertical recess 13 is made in the plate 11, usually between the sockets, the recess being produced in the outer edge of the plate, and for a predetermined distance said recess is in communication with the central opening 12 of the supporting-plate for the legs. A pinion 14 is mounted to turn in the recess 13, the pivot-pin 15 whereof is shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 7. The recess 13, in which the pinion is placed, extends downward as far as the socket 10, being inclosed at its lower end by a wall 15. In the inner face of the outer wall 15 a shoulder 16 is made, and this shoulder is adapted to normally receive and sup port a rack-head 17, the teeth whereof are normally in engagement with the teeth of the pinion 14, preventing said pinion from turning. The rack-head 17 is attached to a rod 18, which rod extends downward through the lower portion of a bracket or stirrup 19, Within which bracket or stirrup a spring 20 is coiled around the rod. The rod may be termed a shifting rod, having bearing against a collar 21, secured on the said rod, and a collar 22 loose thereon and arranged for engagement with the bottom of the stirrup or bracket 19. At the lower end of the shifting rod 18 a treadle 23 is secured, which usually extends outward between the legs of the stool. The shifting rod is capable of lateral movement in its bearings as well as of vertical movement.

The seat 24, belonging to the stool or other article of furniture, as shown in Fig. 1, has a rod 25 secured to its under face, and this rod is provided with teeth 26, which when the seat is to revolve are of annular form, extending circumferentially around the rod, as is shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 4. These teeth engage with the teeth of the pinion 14, 1

since the toothed rod 25 extends downward through the opening 12 in the supportingplate for the stool. Under this construction it is evident that when the toothed rod is in engagement with the pinion 14 said rod, which is the support for the seat, will be effectually prevented from being raised or lowered while the rack-head 17 is in engagement with the teeth of the pinion and rests upon the shoulder 16. The rack-head 17 is in the nature of a stop, and when in its upper position efiectually locks the pinion 14. Although the sup.-'

porting-rod and the seat under the above conditions can be raised or lowered, yet when the annular form of teeth 26 is used the rod' may be freely turned inits bearings without danger of being shifted'from its position, and even should a person maliciously press downward upon the foot-piece or treadle 23 the toothed or rack head 17 could not be carried out of engagement with the pinion 14 as long as the seat 24 is occupied, since the weight of the seat on the pinion 14 will tend to keep the rack-head 17 upon its supporting-shoulder 16.

Whenever it is desired to adjust the seat upward or downward, said seat is first raised a sufficient distance to carry the rack-head 17 free from its supporting-shoulder 16, whereupon when such position has been reached by pressing down upon the foot-piece or treadle 23 the locking or rack head 17 will be carried out of engagement with the pinion 14, as shown in Fig. 4, and the supporting-rod for the seat may be raised or lowered, as desired.

WVhen the adjustment of the seat has been accomplished, the treadle 23 is released from pressure and the spring 20 will carry the rack or looking head 17 up to an engagement with the pinion 14. The moment that weight is brought to bear upon the seat 24 the pinion will be turned in adirection to force the looking or rack head onto the shoulder 16.

If the seat is to be adjusted and is not to be revolved, the supporting-rod 25 instead of being provided with annular teeth 26 will have teeth 26 made upon one side only namely, .that side which faces the pinion. Under the construction shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9 the seat. may be made to revolve or may be held stationary, as desired. The plate 11, the legs, the regulating-pinion 14, and the locking or rack head 17, together with its operative mechanism, remain the same as heretofore described. The difference consists only in the construction of the supportingrod 31, said supporting-rod being rectangular in cross-section and provided with teeth 32 for engagement with the pinion 14. The'seat 27, which is to be carried by the supportingrod, is provided with a spider 28, pendent from its under face and provided with a centrallylocated collar 29. The collar 29 rests upon a flange 33, and that portion 34 of the supportingrod 31 which is above the collar is circular in cross-section and extends beyond the top of the collar. A pin 35 is passed through the upper circular portion of the supportingrod to an engagement with the top'of the collar 29, and a second pin 36 is usually passed through the collar and through the upper portion of the supporting-rod, as shown best in Fig. 7. "When the two pins 35 and 36 are employed, the lower pin serves to prevent the seat turning on the supporting-rod. In the event it is desired that the seat shall turn the lower pin 36 is omitted.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A seat-support provided with peripheral teeth, a plain socket for said support, a pinion engaging with the teeth of the support, extending within said socket, a locking device capable of lateral movement and of vertical movement engaging with said pinion, a seat for said locking device, said locking device being removable from said seat-by the rotation of said pinion, and means, substantially as described, for operatingthe locking device to and from the pinion, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A seat-support provided with peripheral teeth extending circumferentially thereof, a plain socket in which said support is contained, a pinion entering said socket and engaging with the peripheral teeth of the support, a seat located below said pinion, a tension-controlled locking-head having teeth for engagement with the pinion, said lockinghead normally resting upon said seat, and means for drawing the locking-headfrom engagement with the pinion after said lockinghead has been removed from its seat, asand for the purpose specified.

3. The combination with a frame, of a rod sliding therein, a movably-mounted member engaging the rod to hold the same at various positions, and a locking device for said movably-mounted member, the locking device being movable toward and from the said movable member to engage and disengage the same, and also being movable laterally to engage with the frame and to hold the locking device from movement toward and from the said movable member.

4. The combination with a frame, of a rod having teeth, a gear-wheel meshed with the teeth, and a locking device movable toward and from the gear-wheel to engage the teeth thereof, and to hold the same from turning, the locking device being also movable laterally to engage with the frame whereby to pre vent the locking device from being disengaged from the gear-wheel.

5. The combination with a frame shoulder, a rod sliding in the frame, a gearwheel meshed with the rod, and a locking devicemovable toward and from the gear-wheel and capable of meshing with the teeth thereof to prevent the gear-wheel from turning, the locking device being capable of lateral movement to engage the shoulder of the frame whereby to hold the locking device in engagement with the gear.

6. The combination with a frame, of a rod sliding in the frame and having teeth, a gearto prevent the block from being disengaged Wheel revolubly mounted in the frame and from the gear-Wheel, and an operating-rod atmeshing with the teeth to hold the rod at vatached to the block.

rious adjustments, a notched block movable THOMAS WM. GILBERT. 5 toward and from the gear-Wheel to engage Witnesses:

and look the same, the block being also mov- ANSEL F. THAYER,

able laterally to engage the frame whereby JOHN C. GILBERT. 

